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Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
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Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
72
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
58
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster vs Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Specs Comparison
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
General
Brand: Fender Custom Fender Custom
Year: 2004 2017
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Custom Artist Custom Artist
Colors: Black, Blue White, Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Select Alder 2-Piece Select Ash
Bridge: Blocked American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo Blocked American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Fender Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple Neck
Neck Material: Maple Rift Sawn Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Micarta Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Soft V Soft V
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Boost Boost
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Nickel
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster over Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic

Paint Finish
Poly vs Relic
Resistant paint that ages well

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic over Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster

Release Year
2017 vs 2004
From a more recent year
Paint Finish
Relic vs Poly
Looks like an old and slightly beaten up instrument
Value Score
58 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster vs Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic

Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster vs Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic

Bridge Pickup
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat
Same Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat
Same Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat
Same Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
SSS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
V
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Vintage
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Prices

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Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both are balanced for most hand sizes.

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are SSS. SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster compares to the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's are Fender Vintage-Style

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 41.9mm (1.65'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic have a V-shaped neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic have the same fretboard radius of 9.5". This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

Fret Size

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Frets Size
Both have a similar Vintage fret size

Both have a Vintage fret size. These are shorter frets than what's found in most modern guitars. Vintage frets barely stick out from the fingerboard, which means that pressing notes cleanly will be more difficult. Bendings are also harder to perform due to the extra friction from the fretboard. This size is for those who prefer the feeling of a really old guitar and it's not recommended for new players.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67